There’s nothing like opening a blog post with a title that combines Automats – the cool-to-kitschy precursor to fast food restaurants – with a nod to culinary science fiction and Star Trek. The title comes as a response to a recent MediaPost article that gives e cautionary kudos to T.G.I. Friday’s launch of an iPhone and Android app that enables self-checkout. The app cuts down on customer wait time, improves service, and helps the franchise become trendsetters in the re-automation of the....